Stepped stator blade

Abstract

A blade for a stator in a torque converter including a first face, which includes a first step, and a second face located substantially circumferentially opposite the first face. In one embodiment, the first face includes first and second disjointed or misaligned segments, and the first step connects the first and second segments. In another embodiment, the second face includes a second step. In yet another embodiment, the second face includes third and fourth disjointed or misaligned segments, and the second step connects the first and second segments.

1. A blade for a stator in a torque converter comprising:
 a first face including first and second surface segments axially connected by a first step; and, 
 a second face including third and fourth surface segments axially connected by a second step, wherein:
 the blade is formed of a single piece of material; 
 the first and second faces form first and second oppositely facing outer surfaces of the blade; and, 
 the first and second faces fail to form respective single smooth curves. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The blade of  claim 1  wherein the first and second surface segments are misaligned with respect to each other. 
     
     
       3. The blade of  claim 1  wherein during operation of the stator, fluid pressure on the step is less than fluid pressure on at least one of the first or second disjointed segments. 
     
     
       4. The blade of  claim 1  wherein during operation of the stator, the step enables an increase in fluid flow through the stator. 
     
     
       5. The blade of  claim 4  wherein the increase in fluid flow through the stator decreases a k-factor for the torque converter. 
     
     
       6. The blade of  claim 1  wherein the third and fourth segments are misaligned with respect to each other. 
     
     
       7. The blade of  claim 1  including a first body portion and a second body portion offset with respect to the first body portion. 
     
     
       8. The blade of  claim 7  further including a step body portion connecting the first body portion and the second body portion. 
     
     
       9. A blade assembly for a stator in a torque converter comprising:
 a first blade, formed of a first single piece of material, with a first face including first and second disjointed surface segments axially connected solely by a first step surface with a first curvature different from the respective curvatures of the first and second surface segments; and, 
 a second blade, separate from the first blade and formed of a second single piece of material, with a second face, substantially facing the first face, including third and fourth disjointed surface segments axially connected solely by a second step surface with a second curvature different from the respective curvatures of the third and fourth surface segments. 
 
     
     
       10. The blade assembly of  claim 9  wherein during operation of the stator, fluid pressure on the first step is less than fluid pressure on at least one of the first or second disjointed segments. 
     
     
       11. The blade assembly of  claim 9  wherein during operation of the stator, fluid pressure on the second step is less than fluid pressure on at least one of the third or fourth disjointed segments. 
     
     
       12. The blade assembly of  claim 9  wherein during operation of the stator, the first step enables an increase in fluid flow between the first and second blades. 
     
     
       13. The blade assembly of  claim 12  wherein the increase in fluid flow decreases a k-factor for the torque converter.